On the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Türkiye
AFET-PR-767988
Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Nacho Sánchez Amor
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This draft report responds to the Commission's 2023 and 2024 reports on Türkiye, assessing its EU accession progress and broader relations. It finds that Türkiye has not addressed fundamental democratic shortcomings and that its accession process cannot resume under current circumstances.¶¶¶ It calls for an end to restrictions on fundamental freedoms, condemns the dismissal of elected mayors, and urges a closer strategic partnership beyond the frozen accession process.¶¶¶
Committee position. The rapporteur proposes a resolution that assesses Türkiye's accession progress, finds it lacking in democracy and rule of law, and concludes that accession cannot resume; it calls for a strategic partnership instead.¶¶
Key points
- Welcomes Türkiye's renewed commitment to EU membership but stresses that accession requires fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria, including stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, rule of law, and human rights.¶¶
- Regrets that positive statements have not been matched by real action to close the gap on values and standards, and that strategic value cannot substitute for fundamental accession requirements.¶¶
- Considers Parliament's previous resolutions on human rights and rule of law still valid, given the dire situation and democratic backsliding; deeply regrets the lack of judicial independence despite reform packages.¶¶
- Calls on Turkish authorities to end restrictions on fundamental freedoms and attacks on opposition members, human rights defenders, lawyers, trade unionists, minorities, journalists, academics, and civil society activists.¶
- Condemns the dismissal of democratically elected mayors of 10 municipalities and their replacement with trustees, calling it an attack on local democracy.¶
- Commends Türkiye for hosting around 3.4 million refugees, including 3.1 million Syrians, and welcomes EU contributions of close to EUR 10 billion since 2011.¶
- Welcomes de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean and re-engagement with Greece, but regrets Türkiye's continued disputes over sovereignty of EU member states.¶
- Reaffirms support for a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation solution to the Cyprus issue within the UN framework.¶
- Notes that Türkiye's alignment with EU foreign policy positions has fallen to 5%, the lowest for any accession country, and urges closer cooperation with the EU's Sanctions Envoy.¶
- Welcomes Türkiye's return to conventional economic policy and increased green energy investment, but regrets the cost borne by citizens and lack of progress on climate action.¶¶
- Supports upgrading the customs union with strong conditionality on human rights, international law, and good neighbourly relations; notes no progress on visa liberalisation benchmarks.¶¶
- Concludes that Türkiye's accession process cannot resume, urges a parallel and realistic framework for relations, and acknowledges the pro-European aspirations of Turkish society.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- Turkish authorities: must end restrictions on fundamental freedoms and attacks on various groups, and implement ECtHR rulings.¶¶
- Turkish Government: faces calls to reverse dismissals of mayors and improve alignment with EU foreign policy.¶¶
- EU institutions and member states: urged to work towards a closer strategic partnership with Türkiye.¶